Form

Apply to close or divert a highway

Apply for a stopping up order to remove highway rights to permanently close or divert a highway.

From:
Department for Transport
Published
14 June 2011
Last updated
3 December 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Use our new online application form for stopping up orders

HTML

Stopping up and diversion of highways: application guidance

HTML

Stopping up and diversion of highways application form

ODT, 59.4 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

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Stopping up and diversion of highways application form

MS Word Document, 74.8 KB

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Stopping up and diversion of highways process: accessible transcript

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Stopping up and diversion of highways process flow chart

PDF, 340 KB, 1 page

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Example stopping up plan 1

PDF, 739 KB, 1 page

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Example stopping up plan 2

PDF, 1.02 MB, 1 page

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Example stopping up plan 3

PDF, 315 KB, 1 page

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Details

This service covers applications for stopping up under Sections 247, 248 and 253 of the Town and Country Planning Act. 

Stopping up is the legal process used to close a highway. This is required whether it is a small strip that would narrow part of a pavement or a whole road. All public rights of way - whether open to vehicles, horse riders, cyclists or pedestrians - are highways.   

Use this form to apply for a stopping up order to close or divert a highway under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.  

The Department for Transport does not charge a fee for applying and processing stopping up orders. 

This service is not for use in: 

  • London boroughs 

  • Wales 

  • Scotland 

Section 247 

A stopping up order under Section 247 removes highway rights so that you can: 

  • permanently close or divert a highway 

  • close or divert a footpath or footway 

As the order is made to enable an approved development, you will need one of these to apply:  

  • granted planning permission  

  • a certificate or note from your local authority saying this is a permitted development and you do not need planning permission 

Section 253 

A stopping up order under Section 253 allows applications that will be made under Section 247 to be started when full planning permission has not yet been granted but is in process. You will need to have a planning permission application in progress. 

The order cannot be made until planning permission has been granted. 

Section 248 

A stopping up order under Section 248 allows the closing or diverting of highways that provide private means of access to premises where these cross or enter the route of a proposed new (or to be improved) highway.

Updates to this page

Published 14 June 2011
Last updated 3 December 2024 + show all updates

  1. Sign up to use our new online application for Stopping Up orders.

  2. The guidance has been updated to be more comprehensive.

  3. Added flow chart and new version of application form 247 which has been revised and standardised following stakeholder feedback.

  4. Also updated form.

  5. Guidance document added.

  6. First published.

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